Jan Molby identifies Aston Villa man who's main threat to Liverpool

Molby is worried that Liverpool are vulnerable to several styles, and highlights Rudy Gestede as a threat to their chances of winning on Saturday.

Liverpool legend Jan Molby is worried by the styles of play that the club are getting outdone by, and thinks that Aston Villa will pose a considerable threat when the two sides meet at Anfield on Saturday.

The Reds are desperate to get their first win since August in order to breathe new life into their season after a troubling period which has seen manager Brendan Rodgers come under ever-increasing pressure, while the side has struggled to score goals at one end, and keep them out at the other.

In his Liverpool Echo column, Molby identifies the threat of Villa forward Rudy Gestede as a potential thorn in the Reds' side this weekend.

He said: "I said before the Norwich game I feared they had the game to trouble us, with pace and a good counter-attack.

"And Aston Villa, up next on Saturday, also have a threat in Rudy Gestede, a big, powerful guy who is great in the air and has done well against us in the past.

"That's three different styles of play that could undo us, and that's a big concern. Whatever the strength of the opposition, it seemingly worries us.

"Villa are an in-between team. They can't quite work out whether to play possession football or on the break, but in Gestede they at least have another option."

Tim Sherwood's side are hardly in sparkling form themselves, having only won the one league game so far this season, but there was some relief in the week when his side managed to edge out fierce rivals Birmingham City in the League Cup.

But it is a worry for Liverpool that they are getting outdone by several different systems, and they have had a habit of being troubled by target men in the past during the Rodgers era - as defensive solidity has not been their best quality since the summer of 2012.

Liverpool are desperate for a win and have looked anxious of late, regardless of the opposition they face. Aston Villa have a good recent record at Anfield, so the omens don't look good for the Reds, but they need to combat whatever threat they face and impose themselves on the game, rather than be the shadow of themselves that they have been in recent weeks.

Ian Bolland

A journalism graduate of Liverpool John Moores University. During his time at university, Ian spent time on work experience at local newspapers in Liverpool, Bolton and Wigan, and prior to that he did work for The Observer's 'fans verdict'. Ian also has interests in news, current affairs and business but mostly sport, including football, rugby league, cricket, golf and Formula 1, amongst others.